Obstruction

[Guest Murph]

What rule defines the right a runner has versus the fielder to catch a ball in the same path or area? Who has the right of way so to speak? If a runner has been ruled to obstruct the fielder he is out, yet if the fielder still gets the batter out the play is already dead and the batter is then ruled safe?

[ricka56]

Short answer is the infielder has the right of way on a batted ball. But once that batted ball has past all the infielders, the right of way is given to the runner. Rules 7.06 covers obstruction (fielder impedes runner) and Rule 7.08(b) and 7.09 covers interfernce (runner impedes fielder).

[Richvee]

First thing to remember-- Runners interfere, fielders obstruct. Then start with definitions. 

 

 

1.INTERFERENCE

(a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with,

obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.

If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner, or a runner out for interference,

all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the

umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided

by these rules.

 

 

 

OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and

not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner.

 

 

There are many places in the rules where interference and obstruction are mentioned.  Start with 7.09 for interference, and 7.06 for obstruction 

[th3]

If you remember that the fielder has the absolute right to field a batted ball and the the runner has the absolute right to his path to the base UNLESS the fielder is fielding a batted ball, you'll be OK.  

[noumpere]

What rule defines the right a runner has versus the fielder to catch a ball in the same path or area? Who has the right of way so to speak? If a runner has been ruled to obstruct the fielder he is out, yet if the fielder still gets the batter out the play is already dead and the batter is then ruled safe?

Sounds like someone was listening to the announcers on the Yankees - Blue Jays game. (Pop up to F3, R1 makes contact.  R1 is out, BR to first -- but the umps had to huddle to get it right and the announcers were clueless)

[Mad Mike]

I watched the video. It was textbook interference. It took the umpires way too long to get this sorted out. Initially, they appeared to call a double play. As noumpere mentioned, they huddled and got it right. And yes, the announcers, as usual are clueless........why can't Vin Scully announce every game?! 

 

Here is a link to the video:

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33864599

[maven]

I'd guess the confab concerned the catch, which didn't actually happen.

 

The proper mechanic on a popup near the line (all codes) is to call the INT but leave the ball live until its fair/foul status is determined. In this case, it was fair the moment F3 touched it. At that point, it's dead, and it cannot be caught for an out. So the proper treatment of the BR (unless we judge the INT to be a "willful and deliberate attempt to break up a double play") is to award him 1B.

 

The INT call is a little tight (not much hindrance there), but if you grant that, they got it right.

[grayhawk]

Announcers (and fans in general) get themselves in more trouble trying to understand the rules by confusing themselves with this "the runner has a right to the baseline" garbage.  That was some of the worst announcing (from a rules perspective) I have heard all year.

[Richvee]

Announcers (and fans in general) get themselves in more trouble trying to understand the rules by confusing themselves with this "the runner has a right to the baseline" garbage.  That was some of the worst announcing (from a rules perspective) I have heard all year.

If someone has some free time, I'd love to know how many times in that clip those two said something that was absolutely wrong.

[goody14]

Challenge accepted!

 

I get 13 times something is wrong.  2 times something is right.

 

Wrong:

:49 - Says interference is not to be called if the fielder still has ability to make play

:56 - Says contact was in inadvertent so no interference

1:03 - Says runner has right to baseline

1:10 - Says he gave Tex room to make catch and actually Tex made contact so no interference

1:35 - Rehashes point about how Tex still made catch so it cannot be interference

1:46 - Says they should put Edwin at 1B (give credit here though they do state that 2 should not be called out)

2:09 - Back on the baserunner has right to his path horse

2:40 - Says Edwin obstructed instead of interfered

2:44 - Cannot decide between obstruction and interference so they say Edwin "instructed" (my personal fave)

2:50 - They are not sure putting Navarro on first is right

2:55 - Again, not sure why Edwin is out 

3:37 - The horse carrying "runner allowed his baseline" is officially dead

3:48 - Tex makes the contact so no interference

 

Bonus: My intro said Dominos is trying new thing because that is "what they do".  Not sure dumping cheese and sauce on chicken is new.

 

At 3:03 and 4:18 they stumble into the right ruling - blind squirrel meet acorn.

 

I might have missed a few - but this is probably close.

[Guest Line Drive Lenny]

Maven -

 

Let's say in the video referenced that the interference by R1 happens and ball goes ends up in foul territory.  Question 1 - If we have a catch does R1 stay at 1st and B/R is out?   Question 2 - If F3 drops the ball that is foul is B/R out and R1 is still on 1st?  Let's assume interference was not intentional (Then we know we could have 2 outs for that one).

[maven]

Maven -

Let's say in the video referenced that the interference by R1 happens and ball goes ends up in foul territory. Question 1 - If we have a catch does R1 stay at 1st and B/R is out? Question 2 - If F3 drops the ball that is foul is B/R out and R1 is still on 1st? Let's assume interference was not intentional (Then we know we could have 2 outs for that one).

After the INT, the runner is out, regardless of the status of the ball, fair or foul.

The ball is left live only when it is near the line, in order to determine its fair/foul status. Once touched, it is dead immediately.

If fair, the BR is awarded 1B unless called out for willful and deliberate INT by the runner. This was the outcome in the video.

If foul, the BR is returned to the plate, and the play treated as an ordinary foul ball (strike added to the count with less than 2 strikes).

It cannot be caught for an out, either fair or foul.

[thinkingaboutumping]

 

Maven -

Let's say in the video referenced that the interference by R1 happens and ball goes ends up in foul territory. Question 1 - If we have a catch does R1 stay at 1st and B/R is out? Question 2 - If F3 drops the ball that is foul is B/R out and R1 is still on 1st? Let's assume interference was not intentional (Then we know we could have 2 outs for that one).

After the INT, the runner is out, regardless of the status of the ball, fair or foul.

The ball is left live only when it is near the line, in order to determine its fair/foul status. Once touched, it is dead immediately.

If fair, the BR is awarded 1B unless called out for willful and deliberate INT by the runner. This was the outcome in the video.

If foul, the BR is returned to the plate, and the play treated as an ordinary foul ball (strike added to the count with less than 2 strikes).

It cannot be caught for an out, either fair or foul.

 

 

If foul and caught is it BR to first, R1 out? 

[maven]

Read the last 2 lines again of my post again.

[FleasOf1000Camels]

I am SHOCKED.

Do you mean that TV announcers don't always know what they're talking about?

[noumpere]

 

 

 

If foul and caught is it BR to first, R1 out? 

 

Why would BR advance to first on a foul ball?

[Jimurray]

Maven -

Let's say in the video referenced that the interference by R1 happens and ball goes ends up in foul territory. Question 1 - If we have a catch does R1 stay at 1st and B/R is out? Question 2 - If F3 drops the ball that is foul is B/R out and R1 is still on 1st? Let's assume interference was not intentional (Then we know we could have 2 outs for that one).

After the INT, the runner is out, regardless of the status of the ball, fair or foul.

The ball is left live only when it is near the line, in order to determine its fair/foul status. Once touched, it is dead immediately.

If fair, the BR is awarded 1B unless called out for willful and deliberate INT by the runner. This was the outcome in the video.

If foul, the BR is returned to the plate, and the play treated as an ordinary foul ball (strike added to the count with less than 2 strikes).

It cannot be caught for an out, either fair or foul.

Maven -

Let's say in the video referenced that the interference by R1 happens and ball goes ends up in foul territory. Question 1 - If we have a catch does R1 stay at 1st and B/R is out? Question 2 - If F3 drops the ball that is foul is B/R out and R1 is still on 1st? Let's assume interference was not intentional (Then we know we could have 2 outs for that one).

After the INT, the runner is out, regardless of the status of the ball, fair or foul.

The ball is left live only when it is near the line, in order to determine its fair/foul status. Once touched, it is dead immediately.

If fair, the BR is awarded 1B unless called out for willful and deliberate INT by the runner. This was the outcome in the video.

If foul, the BR is returned to the plate, and the play treated as an ordinary foul ball (strike added to the count with less than 2 strikes).

It cannot be caught for an out, either fair or foul.

My iPad keeps me in your post.

As far as I know waiting to determine the fair foul status only applies to an infield fly.

[Richvee]

 

 

Maven -

Let's say in the video referenced that the interference by R1 happens and ball goes ends up in foul territory. Question 1 - If we have a catch does R1 stay at 1st and B/R is out? Question 2 - If F3 drops the ball that is foul is B/R out and R1 is still on 1st? Let's assume interference was not intentional (Then we know we could have 2 outs for that one).

After the INT, the runner is out, regardless of the status of the ball, fair or foul.

The ball is left live only when it is near the line, in order to determine its fair/foul status. Once touched, it is dead immediately.

If fair, the BR is awarded 1B unless called out for willful and deliberate INT by the runner. This was the outcome in the video.

If foul, the BR is returned to the plate, and the play treated as an ordinary foul ball (strike added to the count with less than 2 strikes).

It cannot be caught for an out, either fair or foul.

 

Maven -

Let's say in the video referenced that the interference by R1 happens and ball goes ends up in foul territory. Question 1 - If we have a catch does R1 stay at 1st and B/R is out? Question 2 - If F3 drops the ball that is foul is B/R out and R1 is still on 1st? Let's assume interference was not intentional (Then we know we could have 2 outs for that one).

After the INT, the runner is out, regardless of the status of the ball, fair or foul.

The ball is left live only when it is near the line, in order to determine its fair/foul status. Once touched, it is dead immediately.

If fair, the BR is awarded 1B unless called out for willful and deliberate INT by the runner. This was the outcome in the video.

If foul, the BR is returned to the plate, and the play treated as an ordinary foul ball (strike added to the count with less than 2 strikes).

It cannot be caught for an out, either fair or foul.

My iPad keeps me in your post.

As far as I know waiting to determine the fair foul status only applies to an infield fly.

 

Fair, BR gets 1st. Foul, he goes back to bat. 

[maven]

As far as I know waiting to determine the fair foul status only applies to an infield fly.

Why? We need to know fair/foul on any batted ball in order to place the BR correctly. Same as IFF.

[Jimurray]

As far as I know waiting to determine the fair foul status only applies to an infield fly.

Why? We need to know fair/foul on any batted ball in order to place the BR correctly. Same as IFF.

As far as I know waiting to determine the fair foul status only applies to an infield fly.

Why? We need to know fair/foul on any batted ball in order to place the BR correctly. Same as IFF.

You are correct. I was thinking that they added the wording to the infield fly definition. But determining fair foul always was required on INT awards.